ITV

Tag: Star Plus

  • ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ travels to China

    MUMBAI: The game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? will air in China for the first time.

    China Media Power (CMP) licensed the rights to the show from Celador International, which is now owned by Dutch interactive media firm 2waytraffic. In India the third season of Kaun Banega Crorepati has kicked off on Star Plus.

    Media reports state that China Media Power will produce and broadcast a Chinese version of the show. It will produce at least 104 episodes, which will start broadcasting from May 2007.

    2waytraffic had acquired all rights to Millionaire through its $208m buy-out of Celador International in December 2006. The firm is encouraged by the continued international interest in the format.
     

  • Zee TV to soon have entertainment channel sibling; Zee Next working title

    Zee TV to soon have entertainment channel sibling; Zee Next working title

    MUMBAI: Star Plus has it, so too does Sony’s SET channel; and now Subhash Chandra’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd will soon have it as well – a flanking channel that is.

    If all goes according to schedule, Zeel will be launching a sibling to its flagship channel Zee TV within the next three to five months. While the name of the channel is yet to be finalized as yet, reliable sources at Zeel say that it has been given a working title Zee Next.
    Zee Next is envisioned as a metro-centric entertainment channel that will have content that in scope and feel will be quite similar to what was envisaged for Star Plus’ sibling Star One, when it first launched in late 2004, the sources say.

    This news comes alongside the further closing of the channel share gap between Zee TV and Star Plus in the latest ratings issued by Tam Media. Tam is now beginning to deliver better numbers as function of new markets being added to the panel as well as expansion in peoplemeter numbers.

    Overall, Star Plus’s gross rating points (GRPs) are down from 518 in December to 403 this week. Zee’s GRPs have also dropped from 240 in December to 217 in the current week.

    There are those in the industry who question Zee’s move to launch another entertainment flanking channel, saying that it would only distract Zee TV from a focused assault on Star Plus. The logic of the new channel is reportedly that it will essentially be targeted as a channel that is focused more at marking its presence on addressable systems. That Zee owns both cable (WWIL) and DTH (Dish) platforms also means that packages can be created that will push the new channel to the maximum possible.

  • Vijay TV brings ‘KBC’ in Tamil

    Vijay TV brings ‘KBC’ in Tamil

    MUMBAI: Now you can catch King Khan mouthing the words ‘Vanakkam; neengal parthukondu irupadhu Kaun Banega Crorepathi’. Star Plus’ Kaun Banega Crorepati will be dubbed in Tamil and telecast on Vijay TV for its Tamil viewers starting 23rd January.

    Auditions for the dubbing artistes on the show are on in full swing. The search for SRK’s Tamil dubbing artiste is also to be finalised, a company release sates.

    Says Vijay TV general manager Ravinath Menon, “The question promos are on high rotation on Vijay TV giving Tamil viewers equal opportunity to be part of the show. We hope, in this season, we will see more Tamil viewers get into the hot seat with Shah Rukh and play for the highest prize money. We are also planning different interactive plug-ins around the Tamil version to make it more interesting to Vijay viewers.”

    The show starts 23 January and will be telecast from Tuesday to Friday at 7pm, a time band that was popularized by the channel’s successful show Swamy Iyappan. Advertising clients lining up include Airtel, Hyundai, Motorola, KRBL, HDFC Standard Life, Univercell and Cadbury.

    The release quotes Univercell Telecommunications managing director Satish Babu as saying, “KBC and SRK are two big brands with immense popularity; more so as Shahrukh Khan takes on the role of the Big B, the expectations and interest levels are that much higher; especially among the youth. Vijay TV with its differentiated and innovative programming is the right platform for Univercell to be a part of.”

    KBC will be supported by an extensive on ground campaign spread across various media; with hoardings in Chennai and a road show in three cities; Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai. Specially designed KBC merchandise will be distributed to its active audience during the road activity.

  • Star Plus prepares ground for ‘KBC’ arrival

    Star Plus prepares ground for ‘KBC’ arrival

    MUMBAI: Paving the way for King Khan to make his grand re-entry onto the small screen with Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), Star Plus is rejigging its week day prime time line up.

    In a strategic move, the channel has uprooted Karam Apnaa Apnaa from its well-ensconced 9:30 pm slot and placed it in the lower profile 8 pm slot, where it will take on rival Zee TV’s Banoo Main Teri Dulhaan, a show that is giving decent ratings returns to Subhash Chandra’s flagship channel.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com on the prime time strategy of Hindi entertainment’s lead network, Star India creative director Shailja Kejriwal asserts that Karam Apnaa Apnaa currently grabs the third top spot on the channel alongside Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi…… and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki and therefore, it is a good way to kick start prime time viewing on Star Plus.

    In sync with this, Star Plus’ Viraasat which the industry buzz has it is expected to go off air, has now been shifted to sibling Star One’s 8:30 pm slot. Ironically, this position may give way to its gradual demise as it competes with the heavyweight Kasautii Zindagii Kay on Star Plus.
    However, Kejriwal is optimistic about Viraasat and says, “Even if Viraasat carries one third of its audience to Star One, that will be great for the channel.”

    Stretching the prime time line up further, the channel will bring Star One’s Paraaya Dhan with all original episodes to Star Plus at 11:30 pm. Presently, repeats of the show air in the given time slot on the channel.

    Star Plus will have virtually no competition with sister channel Star One for the 9 to 10 pm duration of KBC as Sathi Re whose ratings are almost negligible, remains in its 9 pm slot. In the 9:30 pm position, what will air are repeat telecasts of Paraaya Dhan.

    All hopes that the channel had in the big budget sci-fi series Antariksh, seem to have been short lived as the show is being taken off air. Along with its poor performance, Kejriwal admitted that “it was also too expensive.”

    The rescheduling means that Star Plus has beefed up its week day line up to the extent that Karam Apnaa Apnaa will get the ball rolling from 8 pm, followed by Kasauti… while KBC is positioned at the peak of prime time viewing at 9 pm. This will be followed by the likes of Kahaani…., Kyunki…., Kahin To Hoga and Paraaya Dhan.

    All of these changes will come into effect with the launch date for KBC, 22 January.

    What’s left to be seen is whether season three of KBC with its new look and host can once again rewrite ratings records for Star Plus in the 9 to 10 pm slot and in the process stymie Zee’s resurgence which has been scripted on the back of Kasamh Se and Saath Phere.

  • Star One, Star Gold launch on Sky in the UK

    Star One, Star Gold launch on Sky in the UK

    MUMBAI: Pan Asian broadcaster Star has announced the launch of Star One and Star Gold on the Sky digital TV platform in the UK.

    The launch expands Star’s Indian channel offering on BSkyB from the current line-up of Star Plus and Star News to a total of four channels.

    Indiantelevision.com was the first to report on 3 November that Entertainment channel Star One and movie platform Star Gold would debut in the UK later this month on BSkyB, which is over-35 per cent owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.

    Star One and Star Gold will be available on BSkyB’s Entertainment Pack. The channels will enhance South Asian programming for viewers in 8.2 million households across the UK and Ireland.

  • Generation leap takes ‘Kahaani…’ atop ratings heap

    Generation leap takes ‘Kahaani…’ atop ratings heap

    MUMBAI: The leap theory has delivered yet again for India’s lead Hindi entertainment channel Star Plus. The channel’s second biggest show Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii’s generation leap episode (Week 46 of 2006) has garnered a whopping 15.3 TVRs to top the ratings charts.

    The Wednesday episode reached out to more than 12 Million viewers (Source: TAM, Base: C&S 4+, Hindi Speaking Markets). This is a record-breaking ratings of sorts because no other show this year has delivered such phenomenal ratings, a statement issued by the channel claims.

    Star Plus overall week-day as well as weekend prime-time has simultaneously improved – with a total recorded growth of 14 per cent over the previous week.

    Additionally, the channel’s recent launch – Karam Apnaa Apnaa – has also performed well by touching its highest average rating of 6.93. Out of the weekend programming pool of Star Plus – Sai Baba has recorded the highest ratings of the year with 7.22 and Prithviraj Chauhan also has touched the highest ever rating of 8.55 TVR, the channel asserts.

  • Aamna Sharif, Ram Kapoor take top honours at Indian Telly Awards 2006; Maran conferred with Contribution to Television Award, Ekta inducted into Hall of Fame

    Aamna Sharif, Ram Kapoor take top honours at Indian Telly Awards 2006; Maran conferred with Contribution to Television Award, Ekta inducted into Hall of Fame

    MUMBAI: The Popular Nite of India’s premier awards for excellence in television, The Sixth Indian Telly Awards 2006 brought to you by Sony Entertainment Television, were held in Mumbai’s Chitrakut ground on 24th November with star-studded performances and attendance from the television and film fraternity.

    The best actress award was bagged by Aamna Sharif for her performance as Kashish in Kahin To Hoga on Star Plus, while the best actor went to Ram Kapoor for his essaying of the role of Jai Walia in the Zee TV TRP topping drama Kasamh Se…

    Ram and his co-star Prachi Desai (Bani) also won the couple of the year award for their on screen chemistry in the show. Prachi also shared the Fresh New Face of the Year (Female) Award with the Zee TV’s Saat Phere lead Rajashree Thakur.

    Sun Network chairman Kalanithi Maran was conferred with the Contribution to Television award at the hands of Sony Entertainment Television CEO Kunal Dasgupta for driving and growing the southern Indian cable and satellite
    television market through his Sun Network, India’s second largest television broadcasting group. Balaji Telefilms creative head Ekta Kapoor was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Ekta has been the creative brains behind the runaway success that Balaji Telefilms has achieved. Young professionals in television who have contributed a lot to the industry are inducted….

    The evening was marked by energetic dance performances from Sangeeta Ghosh, Eijaz Khan and Akashdeep Saigal, Mona Singh, the Left Right Left cast (Arjun Bijlani(Alekh), Gazal Rai (Pooja), Vikas Manattala (Huda), Priyanka Bhassin (Naina), Harshad Chopra(Ali), Kunal Kapoor(Yudi), a stand up comic act from Great Indian Laughter Challenge runner up Naveen Prabhakar, a performance by debutantes of last year and this year – Barkha Bisht, Sanjeeda, Daljit Kaur – and by television couples – Surveen Chawla and Manish Goel (together on a Sony show), Mouni Roy and Pulkit Samrat (the hot new couple on Kyunkii’s new generation) , Divyanka Trivedi and Sharad Malhotra (the couple from Dulhan on Zee TV).

    The awards evening was anchored by the leading face of television – Kiran Karmakar, Juhi Parmar, Anuj Saxena, Mona Singh and Manav Gohil, Shweta Kawatra, Ayub Khan, Renuka Shahane, Karishma Tanna and Gaurav Chopra.

    Billed as the Indian equivalent of the Emmys, the Indian Tellys are the brainchild of founder Anil Wanvari, who is also a board member of the International Emmy Academy in New York, one of the few Indians to make it there.

    Says Wanvari, “Television is evolving and the awards will also evolve. Our sincere effort is to make The Indian Telly Awards the industry’s benchmark because the awards have been created for the industry to recognise the excellence in the creative, business and technical spheres.”

    The Sixth Indian Telly Awards were brought to you by Sony Entertainment Television, with the show slated to be telecast on 3 December at 8 pm on the channel.

    The ground sponsors for the event were CNN Ibn, Ibn7, Zee Cinema and Times Now; the Radio partner Radio City 91.Fm; Outdoor Partner Bright Advertising; Multiplex Partner Fun Cinema; Print Partner Rajasthan Patrika and Mid-Day; Party Venue Partner Some Place Else; and Pr Partner CMCG.

    Coming in January will be the he Technical Nite of the Indian Telly Awards.

  • Star plus launches kids weekly ‘Golu Ke Goggles’

    Star plus launches kids weekly ‘Golu Ke Goggles’

    MUMBAI: After the launch of prime-time kids shows – Antariksh and Lucky – in both the weekday & weekend band, leading Hindi general entertainment channel Star Plus has announced the launch of yet another show targeted at young viewers – Golu Ke Goggles, a nature bound adventure show, starting Friday, 24 November at 8 pm.

    Golu Ke Goggles is the story of a simple and naïve 12-year-old boy from a hill-station – Golu and is played by theatre actor Karan Atri.

    Star India executive vice president Deepak Segal said, “After Antariksh and Lucky, Golu Ke Goggles is yet another endeavor to present fiction aimed and directed towards young viewers. Golu Ke Goggles is an out and out nature bound adventure show packaged with a lot of fun as it brings out the innocence of its characters, and is sure to keep the viewers entertained.”

    The show is produced by Grusha Kapoor and Bikramjeet Singh Bhullar from Indian Production House and directed by Shahjahan and Sunil Chaurasia.

  • Star Plus kicks off ‘The Lucky Watch and Win contest’

    Star Plus kicks off ‘The Lucky Watch and Win contest’

    MUMBAI: Weeks after the launch of the new show Lucky, Star Plus is geared to kick start its on-air contest ‘The Lucky Watch and Win contest’.

    The contest question will be flashed during the show which airs every Saturday at 8 pm. Participants will be required to answer the question just SMS ‘Lucky’ to 7827 or log on to www.indya.com. One lucky winner stands to win a family trip (a trip for four) to Disneyland, Hong Kong, two weekly winners will win Xboxes and 100 goodie bags will be given out to 50 kids every week, for two weeks. The contest period is from 18 November – 2 December.

    The first question will be announced on 18 November, while the deadline for responses is 12 noon, 23 November. On 25 November, question 2 will be announced and the winner of question 1 will be placed on the scroll on air. The answers to the second question must be sent by 12 noon on 30 November. While on 2 December the winner of question 2 and one mega winner who has answered both the questions correctly will be randomly selected. The mega winner’s name will be announced on the slate and the weekly winner on the scroll.

    In addition, this on-air contest will be complimented with a school contact programme across Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Lucknow. This school contact programme will be activated in 2000 schools across the same seven cities including. Children across these schools will get a chance to play games and win Star merchandise.

  • Star Plus to unveil ‘Aek Chabhi Hai Padoss Mein’ on 25 November at 10 pm

    Star Plus to unveil ‘Aek Chabhi Hai Padoss Mein’ on 25 November at 10 pm

    MUMBAI: Star Plus has announced the launch of an hourly weekend show Aek Chabhi Hai Padoss Mein 25 November at 10 pm.

    Sprucing up its programming in the weekend segment with Aek Chabhi Hai Padoss Mein, the channel’s endeavor is to further add to the pool of its creative and innovative mix with the show’s unique-‘slice of life’, concept which is based on a mix of humour and strong emotions, portrayed by characters which are essayed through their stories, states an official release.

    However, the battle in the general entertainment space for the Saturday 10 o’clock slot will only get fierce as Aek Chabhi Hai Padoss Mein will be up against the competitor’s reality show Idea Zee Cine Stars Ki Khoj.

    Commenting on the new show, Star India Pvt. Ltd. EVP content Deepak Segal said, “Aek Chabhi Hai Padoss Mein brings back to Indian television the spice of every day life and ‘middle class mohalla’ which has earlier defined success and popularity for shows like-Wagle Ki Duniya, Nukkad, Hum Panchi Ek Chawl Ke etc. Aek Chabhi Hai Padoss Mein is all set to create a genre of entertainment, with its light humorous storyline, as the show prods gently into the core of the human heart introspecting it’s universal themes and most of all it’s infallible romantic spirit…it’s strength!”

    With an ever changing plot to the story, the show gets its spirit from three families – Mehta, Singh’s and Ali’s, having their distinct outlook and ways towards life. While the Mehta Family is a true reflection of typical middle class, the Singh Family lead each day as it comes, while the Ali Family pin their hopes with every day of life, adds the release.